On 12 November 2009, the draft Immigration Bill was published. The aim of the bill is to "simplify and consolidate" immigration law by replacing the current five categories of leave that may be applied for by those seeking entry to the UK with one "immigration permission".

A raft of new measures are due to be implemented by the UK Border Agency designed to ensure that British workers have every possible opportunity to fill vacancies before employers are permitted to recruit migrant workers.